Delight for Twyford as work begins on bridge

Work being carried out to complete the repairs to the bridge on Steeple Claydon Road,Twyford.'110927M-A818

Published:12:09Thursday 29 September 2011

THE chairman of Twyford parish council has said he is “absolutely delighted” interim work is finally taking place to re-open the bridge on the Steeple Claydon road.

Work began last week and the bridge is due to reopen by the weekend.

The bridge over the disused railway line has been closed to motor vehicles since July.

Twyford residents have complained the village is ‘cut off’ and villagers travelling to Buckingham have had to take an alternative route via Charndon, adding an extra two and a half miles to their journey.

MP for Buckingham John Bercow has lobbied hard on behalf of villagers concerned about the extra fuel costs they were incurring on their journeys.

The bridge was declared to be in a dangerous condition a year ago, with a ‘Road Closed’ notice erected last September. In July, metal posts were concreted into the carriageway to prevent motor vehicles crossing.

Chairman of Twyford Parish Council Roger Landells welcomed the start of work on the bridge.

He said: “I will be absolutely delighted when it’s completed.”

The current works are an interim measure to enable the bridge to be used again while a long-term solution is investigated.